Arctostaphylos tomentosa
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| Arctostaphylos tomentosa | ||||||||||||||
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 ssp. crustacea
 ssp. insulicola
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| Arctostaphylos tomentosa (Pursh) Lindl. |
Arctostaphylos tomentosa is a species of manzanita known by the common name woollyleaf manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California where it is a resident of chaparral canyons, foothills, and lower-elevation mountains. This is a low-lying, spreading manzanita, generally quite a bit wider than it is tall. It is a variable species and even some of the subspecies can vary in appearance across individuals. The stems may be red or gray or both, with smooth, rough, or shreddy bark, hairless to quite bristly. The leaves may be oval to lance-shaped and sometimes toothed, but the upper surface is generally darker and shinier than the lower. The flowers are white to pink and may be hairy or hairless inside. The fruits are fuzzy reddish drupes under a centimeter in diameter.
There are many subspecies:
- A. t. bracteosa - uncommon subspecies from the vicinity of Monterey
- A. t. crinita - from the southern San Francisco Bay Area
- A. t. crustacea - (brittleleaf manzanita), widespread
- A. t. daciticola - (dacite manzanita), from San Luis Obispo County
- A. t. eastwoodiana - from Santa Barbara County
- A. t. insulicola - (island-loving manzanita), scattered in the Channel Islands
- A. t. rosei - (rosy manzanita), from the central and northern coasts
- A. t. subcordata - (Santa Cruz Island manzanita), restricted to the Channel Islands
- A. t. tomentosa - found along the Central Coast
